Chapter 1

[ ] indicates thought, indicates some sort of telepathy

Link ran through the tall grass, without destination or worry. He was at home again in the forest. [I'll never leave,] he thought.


Flowing through the whole forest, the lively notes of the ocarina played an upbeat tune. Saria sat with her instrument, playing for the other children in the middle of Kokiri village. High above the full, round moon shone brightly onto the dancing children. They were all having great fun, moving to the tunes and enjoying themselves. All except one boy.

The music continued and the children laughed and danced as Link walked over to the loner. The boy's face held a scowl.

"Hey Mido," Link said. The sitting boy looked away, almost spitefully. "This is fun, com'on and dance!" Mido looked slowly around, his scowl dissolving slightly, but he did not get up. Link watched him for a second, whishing that Mido would try to have some fun. [I know you want to have fun! Don't be so proud!] he thought.

After another moment of saying nothing, Link turned and walked away. He rejoined the dancing, hoping that Mido would be more receptive to the fun, but resolving to enjoy himself in spite the stubborn child. He started dancing around, in the innocent bliss of a child.

The Children of the Forest continued to dance under the light of the moon, driven by their enjoyment. The notes of Saria's ocarina continued to flow. On this wonderfully warm summer night, the full moon provided enough light for this boisterous activity.

As Link dance, he noticed a particular red-haired head standing at the edge of the crowd. Link rushed over, now grinning a very sincere smile. He grabbed Mido and pushed him into the group. Mido did not know what to do, and was frozen in embarrassed.

"Com'on, Mido!" said one of the twins, dancing by him. Link danced away, leaving Mido to himself. The proud boy slowly started to be absorbed by the lively notes and lost his embarrassment. He began to dance, slowly and ineptly. Saria picked up her tempo, and he began to loose himself in the music. His frown became a smile and the smiling faces of the other children answered him. Mido was with the other children, and he was happy.

Link danced under the moon, a mature, knowing smile on his face.


The boy sat on a tall, square platform in the middle of the forest village, his legs dangling over the edge. He sat in deep thought staring at the first remnants of light in the dark sky. The sky was dark with only a setting sliver of the moon. Stealing away the power of the darkness was the sun. The sun, a symbol of goodness, of pure beauty, and of passing time, began to rise. The boy thought.

"Link?"

He heard footsteps behind him on the thin wooden bridge. The sun had peaked its way over the treetops while he thought, and the sky of the morning clouds glowed vibrantly red and orange. The morning was slowly coming, passing into its time.

Link turned his head slightly as Saria sat down. "Hi," he said.

They silently sat next to each other as the sun continued to rise.

"Pretty, isn't it?" said Link. Saria was quiet. Link had been becoming much more thoughtful and poetic. She felt he was maturing, even though she knew he was still young. They shared the brightness of the sun's glory. They sat silently, best of friends, and they thought.

"Hey!" Mido called from the ground. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah!" Link yelled, suddenly roused from his thoughts. He ran back along the wooden plank bridge. He met Mido on the ground. They laughed and then ran off towards the Lost Woods.

[So mature,] thought Saria, [and so unlike the other children.] She smiled. [But so much like a child.]


"They're on every side, captain!"

"We'll beat 'em! They'll never take out fort!" The captain raised his sword, his red hair blowing in the hot wind. "We'll fight them to the last!"

The two warriors ran to the heavily defended walls of their last fortress.

"Take that, and that!" The swords swung though the air, smiting down the invaders.

"Get back, you reptiles!" The stink-breath of the invading lizard-people filled the air; they were getting closer to climbing over the top of the walls. The sky was darkened with an evil red foreboding.

"Ha ha!"

"Captain!" the soldier yelled. "It's their king!" One giant lizard had made it into the battlements.

"I'll take him!" yelled the captain and swung his sword into one on one combat.

"Hey, Mido, Link!"

The blade dissolved into a slightly crooked stick, the sky shone brightly again, and the lizard king dissolved into their imaginations. They slowly walked over to the edge of their tree fort.

"What is it?" yelled Mido down at the standing child.

"Mikia found a great big berry bush! Do you want some?"

The captain and soldier looked at each other, then scrambled towards the ladder, forgetting their wooden swords and the great battle. They ran after their friend with the promise of sugary treats in their heads.